Unit15
Section One Tactics for Listening
Part1 Spot Dictation
Hitting the Road and Staying at Home - All at Once
America is full of vacation lodges . . . on wheels!
They are known as motor homes - literally kitchens, living rooms, and beds on the move across America. There are more than 1.5 million of these self-propelled rolling dwellings in the United States. They range from simple pick-up trucks with camper units attached to deluxe recreational vehicles - or RVs - as big as a moving van.
Since a motor home vacation is often cheaper than a trip requiring stays at hotels and resorts, one might think the RV industry is thriving, despite the longest and deepest recession since the 1930s. But not so. About 62,000 new motor homes rolled out of dealerships in 2004, but just one-third that many were sold last year. Orders are up early this year, however, as consumer credit loosens somewhat.
Out west, especially, where there are plenty of campgrounds and national parks, you see thousands of motor homes. Their owners have clubs, magazines, a national association - even conventions, twice a year! They are warmly welcomed in most places, because they are often retired couples who have money to spend, teachers with an entire summer available for travel, or well-behaved families on vacation. Many motor home owners have driven to all 50 U.S. states - except, of course, Hawaii, way
out in the Pacific Ocean.
Often neighbors take several trips together each year, sharing gasoline costs, home-cooked meals - not to mention laughs and memories. Even with poor gas mileage on most RV units, these vagabonds can travel for about one-fifth what others pay who fly, buy meals in restaurants, and stay in motels.
And while drivers and passengers alike in large motor homes are supposed to keep their seat belts fastened on the road, it's not uncommon to find someone in back reaching for cold refreshments, spreading maps out on a table - even taking a nap, fully reclined!
Part2 Listening for Gist
Man: Hello.
Woman: Hello, Sam ... this is Paula Hansen. Sorry to bother you, but I'm having a
small problem I thought you might be able to help me with.
Man: Sure, Paula. What's up?
Woman: Well, you know Sarah and I moved into an off-campus apartment in the
fall .. , over on the west side of town. Anyway, we've been happy with it until the past couple of months.
Man: Yeah? What happened?
Woman: Well, the dishwasher broke down, so we reported it to Ms Connors, the
owner. She said she'd take care of it, but a month went by and nothing happened.
Man: Did you get back in touch with her?
Woman: I got a repair person to give me an estimate. Then I sent it to her. When I
didn't hear from her, I had the repair done. And I deducted the cost from the rent check.
Man: So what's the problem?
Woman: She called here mad as a hornet. She said she could've gotten the repair done
for less money. Now she's threatening to evict us for not paying the full rent.
Man: Hold on, Paula. It does sound pretty serious, but I'm sure you can all sit down
and work this out.
Woman: Well, you're over at the law school, so I wondered if you would mind
coming with Sarah and me when we go to talk to Ms Connors. We're supposed to meet with her tomorrow night at 8.
Man: Sure, I haven't studied a lot about contracts yet, but I'd be glad to help you
straighten things out. Why don't I stop by about 7:30? Woman: Thanks, Sam! You're a lifesaver! Exercise
Directions: A girl is talking to her friend about a problem she is having with the landlady. Write down the problem and the key words that help you decide. 1) The problem is that when the dishwasher broke down. the girl had the repair done and deducted the cost from the rent check. Now the landlady is threatening to evict her and her roommate for / not paving the full rent.
2) The key words are dishwasher, broke down, reported, nothing happened,
estimate, sent, didn't hear, repair done, deducted the cost, the rent check, evict, not paying the full rent.
Section Two Listening Comprehension
Part1 Dialogue
UFO
(Noise of car, radio playing H ??? and It's 10:40 here on Island Radio ... \ Jenny: Ooh, it's cold. Let's turn the heating on.
Mick: It's full on already. It must be freezing outside tonight. Jenny: It's freezing in here as well. Still, it's a lovely clear night. (Crackling sound on radio)
Mick: Oh, what's wrong with the radio?
Jenny: It sometimes does that when we're near electricity cables. Mick: Well, I can't see any. Jenny: Perhaps it's that car up there. Mick: What car?
Jenny: That one up there. Do you see the lights?
Mick: Oh yes. It looks a bit too far away for that, though. (Crackling)
Oh, I can't stand this. I'll try again later, (Turns radio off).
Jenny: It's a bit strange tough. Mick: What is?